Economics for People and the Planet — Saviour or Problem?

On 16 March 2016, a memorial symposium for Prof. Hirofumi Uzawa will be held at UNU headquarters in Tokyo. The symposium will commemorate Prof. Uzawa’s contributions to the field of economics, and will feature a keynote lecture by Nobel prize-winning economist Prof. Joseph Stiglitz.

Hirofumi Uzawa (1928–2014) was a Japanese economist who made significant contributions to deepening our understanding of major economic problems by applying new mathematical methods in economic analysis. His wish to be a part of rebuilding efforts in war-torn Japan led him to address problems concerning poverty, inequality and economic growth. He was a firm believer in the need to work on important issues grounded in economic reality and social justice. His book, The Social Cost of Automobiles, analyses the cost of building cities in which pedestrians and cars can coexist. The problems on which he worked are becoming increasingly important as the international community pursues sustainable development. This memorial event will remember and share Prof. Uzawa’s commitment to addressing these problems, in particular poverty and inequality, global environmental issues and sustainable development.

This event will be held in English and Japanese, with simultaneous interpretation provided.

Overview

Date / Time: 2016•03•16 15:00 - 18:00

Location: U Thant Hall, United Nations University
 Headquarters (5-53-70 Jingumae Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Japan)

Organizer: Uzawa Kokusai Gakkan

Co-organizers: UNU-IAS, Keiyu International Medical Research Center

Supporters: Society for Environmental Economics and Policy Studies (SEEPS), Global Environmental Forum, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies(IGES)

Registration

This event is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required. Please click here>>> to access the online registration page.

Programme

(Registration opens at 14:30)

15:00-15:10 Opening Speech
Tohru Uzawa (Professor, Nagoya University)

15:10-16:10 Keynote Lecture:
“Towards Sustainable Economy and Society under Current Globalization Trends and within Planetary Boundaries” (tbc)
Joseph Stiglitz (Professor, Columbia University; 2001 Laureate of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences)

16:10-16:50 Introductory Presentation:
“The Legacies of Prof. Hirofumi Uzawa: Implications for Economics for People and the Planet”
Kazuo Matsushita (Professor Emeritus, Kyoto University; Senior Fellow, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies)

16:50-17:10 Break

17:10-18:00 Panel Discussion:
“Economics for People and the Planet — Saviour or Problem?”
Coordinator: Kazuhiko Takemoto (Director, UNU-IAS)

Panellists:
Joseph Stiglitz
Tohru Uzawa
Kazuo Matsushita